Plural wire stripper and electrical connector



March 13, 1956 A. s. GIBSON 2,738,479

PLURAL WIRE STR'IPPER AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 4, 1951 United States i PLURAL WIRE STRIPPER AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR .Albert S. Gibson, Detroit, Mich., assigner of one-half to t Warren H. Kintznger, Dearborn, Mich.

Application October 4, 1951, Serial N o. 249,766

7 Claims. (Cl. 339-98) v "This invention relates to improvements in electrical vwire connectors and more particularly to connectors for firmly joining a plurality of insulated wires together in physical and electrical contact and without the necessity Another important object of the invention is `to provide` :a connector for this purpose having means for cutting through the insulation of the wires and for irmly gripping the wires to form a strong anchor for the wires. A further important object of the invention is to provide a connector of this character which is simple in construction and use, is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and results in a connection which is substantially moisture-proof and as strong as the wires themselves.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, the connector comprises a housing or block of insulating material in which substantially parallel extending channels are formed for receiving insulating covered wires. Movably mounted in the housing or block is an electrical contact member in the form of a perforated plate arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular tothe axes of the channels and so as to intersect the channels. The perforations of the plate member are arranged in a pattern like that of the channels for registration or alignment therewith. Each perforation is elongated in one dimension and widened at one end sucient -to receive both the wire and its insulating covering and narrowed at the other end suicient to receive only the wire itself. The plate member is movably mounted in the housing in its plane from one position in which the widened sections ofthe perforations align with thechannels to another position in which the narrowed sections of the perforations align with the channels, the arrangement and location` of the sections of the perforations to the channels being such that during this movement the side walls of the narrowed sections of the perforations cut through orV penetrate the insulating covering for direct electrical contact with the wires. In this preferred arrangement, the plate member is thus constructed to eiectually grip the wires and to penetrate the insulating covering material thereof to form a positive electrical connection with the wires.

An important feature of the invention is the provision for controlling the movement of the plate member from the outside of the housing, This is accomplished as herein disclosed by projecting the plate member through and beyond one side of the housing to provide an extension for actuating the member. Carried by the extension ofthe plate member is a body of insulating material which is arranged for abutment with the side of the housingthrough which it projects when the movement of the member is completed. The result is that when the operai tio'n is concluded the plate member and its electrical conice nection to the wires is wholly enclosed Within insulating material and effectively protected from dirt, moisture and other foreign matter. Y

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will become more fully apparent from the following. specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein: 1 Y f Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one formf of connector constructed in accordance with this invention and showingv a plurality of wires entering the connector and the nal position of the parts of the connector.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing member in its nal wire gripping position,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to` Figfl). f;

vbut showing the plate member in its initial position,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line j 4f4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along 5 5 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the perforations of the platemember andgshow-vv ing the'manner in which the perforation cuts through `and removes portions of the insulatingcovering of a,wire,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7f7- of@ lFig. 5 and showing a preferred arrangement for providing cutting -teeth on opposite side wall portions ofeach,

perforation,

Fig. 8 Vis a sectional view taken along linev8-v8 of.`

Fig. 6 but in slightly reduced scale, Y

Fig. 9 is a top plane View of a modified form oficon-V nector, and A 2 Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view takenalong line 10--16 of Fig. 9 and showing the internalconstruction of the modified form of connector.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the main body i portion or housing of the connector is generally-indi-y cated at 10. As shown, the housing is preferably apprectangular shaped `block of insulating material, such. as;v

plastic molded to the desired conguration. The block 10 is formed with a plurality of wire receiving openings or channels 12 which are arranged in spaced .parallel relation to one another. All of these channels preferablyi open out through one side of the block, such as the upper face 14 thereof as shown in Fig. 1. Each channel ispreferably circular in cross section and the diameter. thereof'.

is such as to slidably admit a given size of insulated wire,`

Each wire receiving channel preferably extendsto a depth in the block beyond the longitudinal medial line thereof. Depending upon the use intended 4for the connector, all of the channels may terminate `short of 4the opposite or bottom side 16 of theblock as shown by the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 10,' or

one or more of these channels may extend completely through thevblock and open out or through the bottomY face of the block as well as the top face as shown by the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.- Thus one channel, such as that indicated at 18, is shown as extending completely through the block and opening out through p both the top and bottom sides thereof.

One of these wires, such as that designated by the reference character 24, is received in'the channel 18 which p passes completely through the block; As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this wire not only enters the upper face of the block but projects from the lower face 16 thereof. This wire may lead to an electrical Vdevice for operating the same, such as an electric light fixture. The insulated i vwiresZl) which are received in the shorter channels 12 `are forced thereinto until their inserted ends abut the bases orv Patented Mar.x13, 1956 movable platel which-:maybemot` the-rectangular formation shown in Figs24 andrSfy This plate member is composed of #elecl trical conductive materialnsuch as copper, and is provided witha-pluralityosirnilarly formed perforations or holes arrangedin= a pattern similar to that ofthe channels'lZ and-16. The-housingr or block 10 is 'provided Witha rel' atively deep but vnarrow cavity-28' having substantially the Santen/idd).l and thickness of theplate 26-so as to slidably receive the same.

Thencavitynor; recess 28 'extendsiinla plane substantially=perpendicular tothe axes of the wirereceiving Ichannels .andso as to-intersect the same As shown, inFigs.

2 and 3 the-cavity is preferably'disposed on the longitudinal medial line of the` block halfway between theinpper face-14: and the lower face lthereof. It'is evidentnthat the perforated plate 26 is disposed bythe cavity 28jnperpendiular intersecting relationI to thechannels and by' virtue-oflhaving its' perforations arrangedin Vthe samert rangement'or pattern of the channels jitis capable of being positioned` inthe cavity-with 'its perforationsmin,registratin with the channels:

Referringparticularlyl to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, each per-, k foration` of the plate-member 26 is elongated in onedi-j' mension and Vis provided at one endnwith a widened end section 30 and at the other end with a narrowedY end,A

section n32. The widened end section 30 of eachvperfo'- ration is preferably 'circularly formed as shown and having a diameter` approximately equalling the diameterof the channel's112jan'd 16 so'that theuwires togetherwith theirl A respective insulating coverings 'may be easily passed therethrouglzr The narrowedlend section 32 ofeach, perforation is `,so dirnensionallyV related to the, insulated wires forI which z'the 4connector ,is intended lthat upon yrelativi?. movement ofna wire thereintqthe opposite ,sidewallsofl t, the` narrowed section willeut through the insulating cover;

Al'tht)ugllztheoppositesi-de walls., of theV narrowed `sections t the lexposed `portions tof. theY vviref.

SZfmay'eXtend*Vparadlelgto .onel another tol accomplislnr, thiSPufPQSathss/ars preferably .arrangedin s1ight1y di.. verging relationshipas best,y shown in Fig. Thehopw,

positsl silava peftotatignrare 34-34 These Side. wallsA Open .into the, irculanwidened of the ,narrowednend section 329i eachY .indatedby the, `reference. ,character T50 @11d ectibninia slightly diversing 0r outwardly ,Harinas` felatlQPShlPJQ .,Orlaianthera Asmar insulatcdwire is.

fofssl mathe narrswseton 32..Qf e .Plate perforation,A

anfl .Plate is completed the opposeakside walls ,341-34 comehintopeontact with, the v vire 20 formingam electrical betwssnthe wiretand the. plate;

tit)

......1t19r 1 tgtapernggr filarnsv the sidewalls .34a-134k.: of each perforation relative ,to Aone vanotherhto effectlthq;

cuttias-gpsrationdt is alsoesired toiinclinezor beveLthe side* v11 inthemannsnshown infis- 7. S0..inc lined:

the L'sidevwallsI provide a pairgof oppositel'yf,positionedutp.,, tingme'dgesI atftheentranceoflhe reduced ,end setionz, 0f filafh, ,'PetfQrHOJIL- Such uttingfsdgesfare referred, to@

by tha-refer@ t i, CharaCtcrsfS-(SS .131.,Fiast 6 and?.` As..I the nslllftted, wireis advanced into lthe ,reduced :Section t 32t1heapertQratiQn,fthrcushgwhich it A,extentiethefrut-f. tingedses, f6-381eadilnpeaetrate.theinsulalimr andere Initiallyj'the' plate-Y member 26A ris disposed with Lthe,

l widened end sections 30 of its perforations in alignment with-the-ehannels 12- and16 of the blockz ThereafterthwA plate member is shifted or moved in its plane so as to bring the narrowed end lsections 32 into alignment with the channels. Movement of the plate member from the first position to the second position will cause the narrowed end sections 32 of the perforations to cut through the insulating covering 4surrounding,the wires and. come into direct-contact lwith the ,wires. The early-movement of the plate member from the rst position to the second position is resisted @hyp-fthe compression andI dis'lo'dgment, of the covering material acted upon. by the'side walls 34-34,tbntAv after. this material has ,beenforced into. the widened end section 30 the nal movement of the plate member is effected ,withplesstteiforL t Thetoperation may be characterized as being similar to a snap action, the members initial movement being resisted but its final movement being compartively free and easy. The vdislodged insulatingrnaterial; such as yindicatedfatG in Fi`g.

6,spreads' laterally into thelwidened end sectionsofof the perforations and functions to releasablylock'theplate member against retractible movement.,

Although the plate memberV 26 may be shftedfromlits initialposition to its] final position by a rotary motion..

around a centrallydisposed axis ,in` the housing,lit,isiptler .v

ferredlo accomplishthis change, in positionby a ,straight-4 linefmovernent.v This facilitates the applicationof force for-moving the memberl and inaddition providesia sealing` enclosure for thememberwin, its nal- `positionfashereinafterdescribed, i,

The Aplate member: 26, is'actuated from the iirst .posi tionto tthesecond position from the outside of the fhous-,fingor .block 10,. To this: end, the cavity 28,in theblock opensout ,through oneside edge .thereof and the plate;4

memherisprovided with a longitudinal dimension, such; that evengvhen vfully inserted ,into the cavity onemend; section thereofy projects through this opening and beyond the,side edge. ,The projecting portion 'of the platelmemf.,l berf,26,.constitutes an operating extension 40 for actuate4 ingtheplatefmemberfromathe rst position tothesecond/ positiond Carried on the outer end of the extension 40:.- of, theplate memberis aninsulating body 42 .whichimay'-v befo rmd,of.the samematerialfasthe block 101andlg,

reetangularlyshaped as shown so that surface portionsfi thetbody and-.thevblock 19 ,extend,.ush lwith lonet'an-i.-

othen, The. insulating. body 40 servesas a handle aga inst; 4

whicheither-the hands ofthe operator ora tool maybe.` applied to-move'thesplate member.v The insulating bodyv 42,. is so positioned on thevextention 40 of thelplatetmemfil bei-,that in ,theinitial positionof the plateL-mernber-fit ist', spaced from ,the adjacent; edge, of the-block, butl inl the# fnalpqsition of the Aplate ,member it is.brought,11p; intoi.;v abutment with, the side edge; to,= completely surrounddthea: platefmernber. insulated-,material and tto, forma-.a substanar'- The, linitial;pope,rating position ,v of the @plate member;v 26; :t iS hQvYn=in-\EigS-3 andft. 'The-final.operating:position:-l

ofthegplatemember is shown in lFigs. l, 2 and ,.5. z

In, theinitial ,position vof the plateY member; anyzdenfl sited .numben of. .insulated wires such as i .indicated at tu;

20land 24are1inserted lintoI the channeIsof the block.;y

Dependingon,theuseof the device,one of .these;wires as l,indicatedat 24,1nay1be passed; completely throughfthm: channel 18 so as to project from opposite sidesflthef block.A g Thereafter theplate membery is movedslo itsnal andlttheL otherajaw: bearingagainstv thei oppositefendaof;

theb1ock. In the,nal closed position of thetplate menten ber, ,thewside ,walls 4'But-.,314 of each` narrowedr-end. section-.1I

of the plate apertures are brought up into direct Contact with the wires as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. The wires are thus electrically connected together through the plate member and firmly locked within the block.

The modification of Figs. 9 and 10 is similar to the embodiment of the invention previously described except that the block 44, corresponding to block 10, is longer and wider and provided with more Wire receiving holes or channels 46 than formed in block 10. Moreover, in the modification, all of the channels are shown in Fig. l0 as terminating in closed ends short of the bottom side of the block whereas in the previously described embodiment of the invention at least one of the channels opens out through opposite sides of the block. The modification is completed with the provision of a plate member 48 corresponding to plate 26 and having an insulating body 50 on its projecting end corresponding to the body 42. Figs. 9 and l0 show the plate member in its final position, gripping and electrically contacting insulated wires received in the channels 46.

What I claim is:

l. A connector for a plurality of insulated wires cornprising a housing of insulating material formed to provide openings to receive said wires in spaced apart relation, a perforated plate of electrically conductive material, a channel in said housing for slidably receiving and guiding said plate, each said opening extending through a housing wall at one side and into the wall at the other side of said channel, said plate perforations each being provided with a widened end section suicient to receive and pass the respective wire with insulation intact, a narrowed perforation extension extending in substantially the same direction from each said plate perforation widened end section of such width as to receive only the bare wire and insure metal deformation to grip said wire and to provide electrical contact between said plate and wire, said plate being slidable from a wire receiving position with said widened end sections aligned with said openings to a wire electrical contact and connecting position with said narrowed perforation end extensions aligned with said openings, the insulation being substantially simultaneously stripped from the sides of said wires and metal deformed for electrical contact between said plate and wires by movement of said plate.

2. A connector for a plurality of insulated wires comprising a housing of insulating material formed to provide openings to receive said wires in spaced apart relation, a perforated plate of electrically conductive material, a channel in said housing for slidably receiving and guiding said perforated plate, each said opening extended through a housing wall at one side and into the wall at the other side of said channel, said plate perforations each provided with a widened end section sumcient to receive and pass the respective wire with insulation intact, a narrowed perforation extension extending in substantially the same direction from each said plate perforation widened end section of such width as to receive only the bare wire and insure metal deformation to grip said wire and to provide electrical contact between said plate and wire, a perforated plate wire receiving position with said perforation widened end sections aligned with said openings, a wire electrical contact and connecting perforated plate position with said narrowed perforation extensions aligned with said openings, dislodged insulating material being stripped from said wires resiliently spread into and confined within said perforation widened end sections andbetween said housing channel walls restraining said electrical conductive perforated plate against retractable movement from said wire electrical contact and connecting position.

3. In the connector defined in claim 2 opposite side walls of said plate perforation narrowed extensions arranged in slightly diverging relationship opening toward said widened ends and said opposite side walls of said narrowed perforation extension inclined or beveled to pro vide cutting or slicing edges.

4. In the connector defined in claim 2 at least one of said wire openings in said housing and the said insulated wires inserted therein extending completely through said housing.

5. In the connector defined in claim 2 said plate projecting outward from said channel, an insulating body mounted on the projecting end of said plate and spaced from said housing when said plate is in said wire receiving position, said insulating body abutting said housing when said plate is in said wire electrical contact and connecting position.

6. In the connector defined in claim 2 a connector in which electrically conductive members are wholly enclosed within insulating material when said plate is in said wire electrical contact and connecting position.

7. In the connector defined in claim 2 a connector in which it is safe to electrically contact and connect said wires even though a wire may be electrically charged.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,176 Mallard Apr. 6, 1948 2,501,187 Oortgijsen Mar. 21, 1950 2,583,530 Hasselbohm Ian. 29, 1952 2,587,239 Smith Feb. 26,

FOREIGN PATENTS 246,803 Switzerland Ian. 31, 1947 953,773 France Dec. 13, 1949 

